We're building a movement to close the opportunity gap facing America's children and families.

Every Child Matters works to make children’s issues a
nation-wide priority. It’s why we say, “Vote For Kids!”

Learn MoreDonate

Opportunity for All

Every child deserves a shot at the American dream. Fighting poverty, discrimination and other barriers is essential to closing the opportunity gap facing America’s children. When every child gets a fair chance at success, America’s families, communities and the economy benefit.

  • Nearly 16 million children in the United States – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level.
  • Children represent 24% of the population, but they comprise 34% of all people in poverty.

Learn More

3897769410-opportunity-for-all

Working Families

Working and having a family shouldn’t be so hard. Stagnant incomes and workplace practices that pit being a parent against being a provider strain families and harm kids. Paid sick and family medical leave, access to affordable childcare and fair wages can help provide the economic security and flexibility that parents need to build their careers and support their families.

  • In 2014, in 28 states plus the District of Columbia, the average annual cost for an infant in center-based care was higher than a year’s tuition and fees at a four-year public college.
  • Four in ten private sector workers – over 40 million people – do not have access to paid sick time.

Learn More

49001076-working-families

Education

We believe all kids should have access to high quality schools regardless of their neighborhood or parents’ income. Guaranteeing access to high-quality early childhood education and affordable higher education will help level the playing field and inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators.

  • 4.4 million – or 54% children ages 3 and 4 are not in pre-school.
  • Only about one-third of all children attending school in the United States can read proficiently by fourth grade.
  • More than 40 million Americans currently have student loan debt. Over the past decade, student debt has quadrupled from $240 billion in 2003, to more than $1.3 trillion today.

Learn More

3

Safe Kids

Every child needs a safe environment in their home, school and neighborhood. We are committed to preventing child abuse, ending deaths due to abuse and neglect, and to reducing gun violence.

  • Over 700,000 children were confirmed victims of child abuse in 2014.
  • Four to eight children die each day in the US from abuse or neglect at the hands of parents or caretakers.

Learn More

1103714799-safety

Healthy Kids

No child should be denied healthcare. In recent years, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act have expanded access to comprehensive medical care for children. We must work to preserve and build upon this progress.

  • 26 million children receive some form of government funded health care and 4.4 million are uninsured.
  • As a result of Congress’s passing of comprehensive health reform, those under the age of 26 can remain on their parent’s health insurance, and insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing medical conditions.

Learn More

1271085991-healthy-kids

  • 1 in 5

    children in the United States lives in poor families.

  • 4 in 10

    private sector workers – over 40 million people – do not have access to paid sick time.

  • 7 in 10

    bachelor’s degree recipients who graduated in 2013 had student loan debt.